This Monday is called Family Day. Although not a Canada wide holiday it has been celebrated since 1990 in Alberta. I think our Premier of the time just wanted a holiday in February, but this is the official reason given according to Wikipedia:
The holiday was proclaimed by Lieutenant Governor Helen Hunley, on the advice of her premier, Don Getty. Premier Getty said it was important for all Albertans to take time for their families and this holiday would emphasize the importance of family values.[3]
Alberta was alone in this February Holiday until Saskatchewan decided to follow suite in 2006. 2007 saw Manitoba and Ontario join the ranks.
As with any other excuse to have a festival, Edmonton does it up in grand fashion. There is Winter Light Family Day with all kinds of activities both indoors and out including things like sleigh rides and skating, bannock making and some acrobats. Elsewhere in the city, you can take in an art workshop at the gallery, a multi-cultural concert at the Winspear Centre or enjoy an obstacle course at the YMCA. Admission for most events is simply a donation to the food bank.
Personally, I will be staying in my warm apartment, away from crowds. I might spend some time with my urban family and probably chat with my sister. Nothing more exciting than that though. Well, as far as I know anyway ;)
I hope everyone has a good day, whether they have it as a holiday or not.
Drop by Travis Erwins blog for links to more My Town Monday posts from around the world.
16 comments:
Ah, yes. Dale Getty Day is here again. The Premier's son was busted for cocaine and we get a holiday in his honour.
I refuse to take this day off as a matter of principle. Tricky now that I don't have an outside job, but I'll come up with something.
Have a good day, Reb. It's -20C here and probably something similar where you are. Stay warm.
Happy Family Day, Reb!
I love learning all the ins and outs of other places on MTM!
Stay warm! Brrr.
Any excuse for a holiday works for me! Of course, not having an "off-ranch" job makes it a little difficult to actually take the day off.... still have to do the chores, dang it!
Great post, sis. We can chat this evening, perhaps.
If you're looking for an excuse to have a holiday, calling it "Family Day" is a pretty good start. I love festivals and all that fun stuff.
Edmonton seems like the festival capital! Here in the US it is Presidents' Day. Where banks and the post office are closed and some folks have the day off.
Sure it's a holiday but this postal worker is working today anyway.
Leah, I had forgotten that. Good thing I don't have principles.
Thanks Mary. It is interesting to learn about other places.
Sis, thanks. Hard to take a day off from real life isn't it? Sounds good.
Jay, yes it is a good excuse. You'd love it here.
Debra, we are called Festival City for good reason ;)
Travis, it isn't a Federal holiday so your counterparts here are working too.
Ice-Carnival maybe. But Family Day belongs in warmer weather for me.
In Ontario it is up to the discretion of the employer whether the employee gets a day off. I've watched some poor souls going off to work this morning.
Enjoy the day.
Patti, they just wanted an excuse to have a day off.
Barbara, it's all about the amount of overtime paid. People usually choose to work this one and take August off - that is if they have a choice.
I find it interesting that Canada always seems to have these interesting holidsys, just for the heck of it!
Happy Family Day. It's our second one here in Ontario and my sons and I met my sister and niece for lunch. I hope you and Baggie got your chat time in. :)
Gary, you mean like some of the ones you have down there? ;)
Hilary, that sounds like fun. Yes we chatted for awhile.
I phoned both my sisters in Toronto on Family Day!
Barrie, good for you!
Family day is a great idea. We had Presidents' Day here in the US, so we took a family day and went to play at a resort: skiing for the 3 oldest males, and I watched the younger 2 while they played at the waterpark. Many others from our church group were along, so I had other mums to chat with. It was a good mini-vacation.
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